It’s not a bumper sticker (though it makes a good one). It’s true. Most – if not all – crime is committed by desperate people. People who feel like they have nothing to lose. And in many cases, if we’re honest, we can understand why they might feel that way. People with good jobs, a nice home, a family – things to lose – rarely commit crimes. People with something to lose typically act like it. Let’s prioritize creating employment opportunities for the most marginalized communities – including the previously-incarcerated – so they have something to lose.
Let’s expand employment opportunities for young people so they have something to lose. That means federal funding for youth employment, skill development in fields with high demand and low entry barriers, and targeted support for the formerly incarcerated, creating pathways away from crime through empowerment, engagement, and economic opportunity. This kind of comprehensive policy is designed to combat crime at its roots by providing meaningful employment opportunities to the most marginalized, including young people and the previously incarcerated. Recognizing that desperation often leads to criminal activity, this initiative seeks to stabilize communities through federal funding for youth employment, skill development in high-demand sectors with low entry barriers, and targeted reintegration support for those exiting the criminal justice system.
By creating a framework for empowerment, engagement, and economic opportunity, the initiative aims to transform lives and reduce crime, offering individuals not just jobs, but a stake in their communities and reasons to pursue a lawful, productive path. This multi-phase strategy underscores the belief that secure employment is key to building safer, more prosperous communities.